Editing Gawsworth Old Hall (section)

==Architecture==

===Exterior and plan===
Gawsworth Old Hall is a timber-framed house in the Cheshire black-and-white tradition,<ref name=clt/> roofed in [[Kerridge]] [[sandstone]]. It has been estimated that the weight of the roof may be in excess of {{convert|300|LT|t|lk=on}}.<ref name=clt>[[Alec Clifton-Taylor|Clifton-Taylor, Alec]], ''Building Materials'', in {{Harvnb|Pevsner|Hubbard|2003|p=46.}}</ref> The house is in mainly in two storeys. In the north range, and on the south front, the timber frame has been encased in brick, with timbering applied to its outer surface. Internally the roof trusses have been retained. Its plan is that of a U-shape with its open side facing the west, towards what was the courtyard. The main entrance is in the north range, leading into the Entrance Hall. To the west of this is the Library, and to the east, the Morning Room. The Entrance Hall leads into the longest range, the eastern range, consisting of the Long Hall, at the north end, and the Dining Room. The Long Hall was originally the [[Great Hall]], and was open to the roof, but is now divided into two floors. To the east of the range extend the kitchen and the chapel. The Dining Room leads into a room now known as the Green Room, which is [[Cant (architecture)|canted]] ten degrees to the east. This was also originally open to the roof, but was not a great hall. De&nbsp;Figueiredo and Treuherz are of the opinion that this was originally a larger, separate structure, probably a barn, and incorporated into the main building when the east range was built. Little of the south range remains. It originally contained domestic apartments, which formerly extended to join the now-demolished west range. In the angle between the Dining Room and what remains of the south range is the Drawing Room. The special feature of this room is a canted [[bay window]] on the north side, extending upwards for three storeys. The only dated item in the building is the Fitton [[coat of arms]] on the north front, which was carved by Richard Rany in 1570.<ref name=fig/>

===Interior===
Many of the original features have been lost as a consequence of the many changes that have taken place over the centuries. Additional features have been added to the interior by Raymond Richards, such as the doorcase around the entrance.<ref name=fig/> The Entrance Hall has retained its [[Middle Ages|medieval]] shape and low ceiling. It contains the coat of arms of the Richards family and items of weaponry, including a decorative suit of armour dating from the 19th&nbsp;century and moved here from [[Scarisbrick Hall]].<ref name=anon1>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=1.}}</ref> To the west of the Entrance Hall is the Library. This is in the shape of a double cube, measuring {{convert|16|ft|m|1}} by {{convert|32|ft|m|1}}. Its major item is a richly carved [[Tudor architecture|Tudor]] chimneypiece. The bookcases were designed by [[Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin|A.&nbsp;W.&nbsp;N.&nbsp;Pugin]].<ref name=anon2>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=2.}}</ref> Both of these items were moved here by Raymond Richards, the bookcases coming from Scarisbrick Hall.<ref name=fig/> The bookcases contain a comprehensive collection of books relating to Cheshire. In a corner cabinet is a [[flint axe]] head dating from about 2000 BC. This was discovered in the park nearby in 1912.<ref name=anon2/> To the south of the Entrance Hall is the Long Hall. This has retained the fireplace and ceiling introduced in the [[Tudor period|Tudor era]]. The hall contains items of antique furniture, and paintings by [[David Wilkie (artist)|David Wilkie]], [[J. M. W. Turner]] and [[John Constable]].<ref name=anon2/> To the south of the Long Hall is the principal staircase, which was remodelled in 1920. The area around the staircase contains a [[Waterford Crystal|Waterford glass]] [[chandelier]] dating from about 1780, and a portrait of the first Earl of Harrington by [[Allan Ramsay (artist)|Allan Ramsay]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=3.}}</ref> From this area, a door leads into the chapel. This is the third or fourth chapel in the house, and was [[Dedication (ritual)|dedicated]] to [[Thomas More]] when he was [[Canonization|canonised]] in 1935. Much of the woodwork in it dates from 1803. Many of the ornaments in the chapel were brought here by Richards from a [[redundant church]] in [[Ipswich]]. Two [[marble]] plaques in the chapel are by [[Thomas Thornycroft]], a sculptor born in the nearby village. Alongside the chapel is an [[ambulatory]] or [[baptistry]] which contains a [[baptismal font|font]] and items of stained glass, made by [[Morris & Co.]] and designed by [[Edward Burne-Jones]].<ref name=anon4>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=4.}}</ref> These were obtained by Richards from All Saints Church, [[Birkenhead]].<ref name=fig/> They depict the [[Crucifixion of Jesus|Crucifixion]], and Saints [[Agnes of Rome|Agnes]], [[Saint George|George]], [[Saint Stephen|Stephen]] and [[Saint Alban|Alban]]. The south door contains fragments of ancient glass from [[Plas Newydd (Llangollen)|Plas Newydd]] in [[Llangollen]] that were originally in a medieval church.<ref name=anon4/> Adjacent to the chapel is a [[Sunroom|conservatory]] containing [[marble]] sculptures by John Warrington Wood.<ref name=fig/>

To the south of the Long Hall is the Dining Room, which is little changed since the Tudor era. Its contents include a 16th-century [[refectory table]], an oak [[escritoire]] from about 1650, and items of [[Wedgwood]] [[Victorian majolica|majolica ware]] made in about 1830.<ref>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=5.}}</ref> The Dining Room leads to the small Guard Room, which contains two 17th-century chairs and an 18th-century [[blunderbuss]]. To the west of this is the Drawing Room, the principal living room of the hall, which has been little altered since the middle of the 16th&nbsp;century.<ref>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=6.}}</ref> To the south of the Drawing Room is a small room known as the Gold Room. This room has retained a [[frieze]] dating from the early 16th&nbsp;century, including carvings of [[Tudor rose]]s, flowers and birds. Also in the room is a [[Bust (sculpture)|bust]] of Charles Gerard. In the southeast corner of the hall is the Green Room. This contains a painting of [[Gawsworth Old Rectory|Gawsworth Rectory]] by [[Charles Tattershall Dodd]], and a complete set of a dinner service by [[Mintons|Minton]], comprising 120&nbsp;pieces.<ref>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=8.}}</ref>

A staircase from the east of the Guard Room leads to the Gallery on the upper floor, to the south side of which is the Solar, containing a 16th-century four-poster bed known as the Boswell bed. It was formerly in [[Lympne Castle]], [[Kent]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=9.}}</ref> The house's principal bedroom is the Hall Room, much of which has survived from the early 16th&nbsp;century. It contains a four-poster bed from the era of [[William and Mary style|William and Mary]] and a portrait by Zuccaro of members of the Fitton family, which was formerly in [[Brereton Hall]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=10.}}</ref> A room next to the Hall Room has been converted into a modern bathroom, next to which is Mary Fitton's Bedroom, which contains an old plaster frieze. The other rooms on floor are the French Room, containing an 18th-century French bed, and a small bedroom known as the Griffin Room.<ref>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=11.}}</ref> Adjacent to this is the Billiard Room, which has exposed roof timbers. As well as the billiard table, the room contains a marble sculpture of [[Echo (mythology)|Echo]] by Alfred Gatley and a bust of [[John Milton]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Anon.|1992|p=14.}}</ref>